Rotary valve.



R. E. CAMPBELL.

ROTARY VALVE.

' APPLICATIOBt EILED MAY 16. 1911, LQ95,%9@

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

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WITNESSES: I I I I I INVENIIQOR M? jfafiarflflwpfie/Z f n a flmymmmdAmmwmszs R. E. CAMPBELL.

ROTARY VALVE.

APPLICAIION FILED MAY 16. I917.

Patented Feb; 25, 1919.

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Arromwmzs ROBERT E. CAMPBELL, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed may 16. 1917. Serial No. 168,975.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Valves, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a rotary valve particularly adapted for use inconnection with internal combustion engines of the four-cycle type.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple,easily applied rotary valve for internal combustion engines, which isself-seating in operation and provided with a plurality of portsalternately operable as exhaust and intake ports to permit uniformexpansion and low tem--' perature during operation. Another object ofthe invention is to so arrange the ports that a plurality of the 'portsis opened both during the exhaust and intake stroke, thereby permittinga free admission and discharge of the gases and also a slow rotation ofthe valve as compared with crank shaft speed. c For instance, byproviding six ports in the valve it becomes possible to rotate the.

valve at a ratio of one revolution to twelve of the engineshaft,"thereby reducing wear and leakage through the valve to a minimum.Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The inventlon consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanyini drawings, in which gure 1 1s a vertical,central section through the valve, taken online l-l of Fig. 2 is a plancross section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar section on line3 -3 of ig. 4 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the valve movement.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Aindicates the cylinder of aninternal combus tion engine, 2 the piston and B a valve head which maybe formed integral with the cylinder or secured to same. The valve headis provided with a frusto-conical, annular channel 4 for the receptionof a valve 5 of similar shape, which, in this instance, is driven by aset of worm gears 6 and 7 at a rate of one to twelve of the engineshaft;

the connection between the gear 6 and the valve 5 being formed by ahub-likeextension 8 and a spline 9 which permits vertical movement ofthe valve with relation to the gear, as will hereinafter be described.The hub 8 being secured to the valve proper by means of a plurality ofspoke-shaped arms 10 permits lubrication of the inner and outer surface11 of the valve. The annular channel 4, formed in the valve head B,divides the valve head into two separate portios, to-wit, an innercentral member or head 12, in which is formed a central chamber 13 whichcommunicates with the cylinder, and a plurality of radially disposedports 14. There are six ports in the present instance indicated by thenumerals 8 and 8", and these ports are in turn divided into two sets,

the set 8 serving as intake ports and the set 8 serving as exhaustports. Each set of ports is ofi'set with relation to each other,

that is,'the three exhaust ports ar evenly spaced with relation to eachother and the three intake ports are evenly spaced with relation to eachother, but the three exhaust ports are positioned circumferentiallycloser to one of the intake ports, as will hereinafter he described. aThe second portion of the valve head consists of an exterior annularwall 15, in one 'side of which is formed three inlet ports indicated "bythe numeral 1 communicating 19. I These ports are radially positionedand are, furthermore, evenly spaced to permit alternateregistration withthe inlet and exhaust ports formed in the inner and outer sections ofthe valve head. This alternate registration takes place during therotation of the valve which is driven through the gears 6 and 7 and isbest explained by referring to the diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 4. Inthis view the numeral 15 represents the outer wall of the valve head, inwhich is formed the intake ports 1* and the also divided into eightsections.

exhaust ports l and 5 represents the valve in which are formed the ports19. The circles representing the outer wall section of the valve headand the valve are here graduated into forty-eight subdivisions; thespacing between the intake ports in the wall 15 being divided into'eight sections and the spacing between the exhaust ports being The ex:haust ports are, however, positioned circumferentially three spacescloser to the first intake port, indicated at 20, thereby bringing thefirst intake port 20 and the first exhaust port 21 three subdivisionscloser and similarly increasing the space between the last intake port22 and the last exhaust port 23 by three spaces. In other words, thereare nine subdivisions between-the ports 22 and 23 and only fivesubdivisions between the ports 20 and 21.

This circiui'iferential changing or shifting of the exhaust ports withrelation to the intake ports makes it possible to evenly space the portsin the valve and also makes it possible to bring the-ports in the valveinto alternate register with the inlet ports the position with relationto port 20 shown in Fig. 4, that is, when the piston is in position tomove 1n. a downward direction on the suction stroke. The one to twelvespeed ratio between the crank shaft and the valve causes the port 8 tomove from the position shown in to register with the sub-divisionindicatedat 2, while-the piston travels d0wnwardly through the cylinderto charge the latter. The movement of the 'port from the position shownto the subdivision 2 causes registration with port 20 and, therefore,per-j mits a charge to be drawn through the-ports while in registration.The valve travels from the subdivision 2 to the subdivision 49*, duringthe compression stroke of the piston, and travels from the subdivision4" to the subdivision 6* during the firing stroke. The port in the valvewill then be directly opposite the exhaust port 21 and will move acrosssaid port during the exhaust stroke of the piston, thereby permitting acomplete scavenging of the cylinder and finally assumes the positionshown at 8 on the diagrammatic view of the valve after the four cycleshave been completed. In bther down between the Wearing surfaces.

the alined exhaust ports formed in the outer and inner sections of thevalve. A comparzv tively large valve opening is in this manner obtainedand a free passage for incoming and exhausting gas is, therefore,permitted, thereby causing a more complete charging and scavenging ofthe cylinder during the four cycles of operation.

Another result obtained will be as follows: Each port formed in thevalve serves first three times as an intake'port and then three times asan exhaust port. This is of considerable importance as it permits auniform heating or cooling of the valve, thereby maintaining an evenexpansion and even wear when operating. The valve is, furthermore,tapered both exteriorly and interiorly and as this taper is of thestandard Morse angle and the speed of revolution is so extremely low itcan readily be seen that what driving gears 6 and 7 a cap 27 has beenprovided. This cap may be filled with oil and, therefore, forms a Wellon top of the valve from which the oil can continuously (ally-gill evalve and gears are in this manner automatically lubricated and as theyare constantly flooded with oil it can readily be seen that an idealcondition, as far as lubrication is concerned, is established. I

The inner portion of the valve head 13 is preferably water-jacketed, asshown at 28 and forced circulation may be maintained through said jacketspace by extendin a tube 29 through the hub 8 of the Va ve. Waterentering through this tube passes through the jacket space formed in thehead 13 and may then enter the cylinder jacket 30, as shown. The jacketspace 18 may also communicate with the cylinder jacket and any suitablemeans for maintaining a circulation therethrough may be provided. Thevalve proper can in this manner be main, tained comparatively cool,first, by the water circulation maintained both interiorly andexteriorly thereof, and, second, by the alternate use of the ports forinlet and exhausting purposes.

While six sets of ports are here shown, I wish it understood that thenumber may be increased, for instance to eight or more, thereby furtherdecreasing the speed of revolution. The one objection to employing moreports than shown is the necessary increase in exterior diameter. This,however, is permissible where an engine of large size is employed.

I also wish it understood that the materials and finish ofthe severalparts of the rotary valve may be such as the experience and judgment ofthe manufacturer may dietate.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is v 1. A rotary valve comprising a head memberdivided by a'tapering annular channel into an outer and an inner casingsection which sections are formed with alined inlet and exhaust ports"establishing communication with a central chamber provided in the innersection, saidhead member being water jacketed, a waterinlet tubeextending upwardly from the inner section, a rotary valve arranged inthe annular channel of the head member for controlling the inlet andexhaust ports, a hub part rotatably supported on the tube and connectedto the-valve by a plurality of arms whereby a lubricant may flow to boththe inner and outer faces of the valve, a gear splined to the hub forrelative sliding, and a cover plate inclosing the upper end of thevalve, gear andhub part and forming a lubricant chamber.

2. A rotary valve comprising a head member divided by a tapering annularchannel into an outer and an inner casing section which sections areformed with alined inlet cally maintain a proper seating in the chanvnel as wear occurs.

3. A rotary valve comprising a substantially cylindrical head memberprovided with a set of ports on each side of a diametrical linetherethrough, a substantially Y- shaped manifold for each setcommunicating with all the ports thereof and conforming to the exteriorof the head member, the latter being divided concentrically by anannular channel into an outer and an inner casing section, a cylindricalvalve rotatable in the chalmel to control the sets of ports, said valveextending above the inner casing section, a water jacket capping thelatter and arranged within the upper end of the valve, a water supplypipe extending upwardly from the jacket, valve driving I means journaledon the pipe and connected to the valve by radiating spokes overlying thewater jacket, and a housing for the valve drivingmeans.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT E. CA BELL.

